Randell Williams joins Exeter City from Watford

Randell Williams says Exeter City’s reputation for developing and improving players was the reason he decided to put pen to paper on a permanent deal at St James Park.

The 22-year-old winger, who has spent the last year on loan at Wycombe Wanderers, joins City from Watford.

He comes with a proven track record having played six games for the Chairboys last season as they were promoted from League Two and 23 games for them this campaign in League One.

“I am very pleased to have joined,” said Randell. “I know about the club and I am just happy to be here.

“I know how the club develops players. They are really good at it. They have sold quite a lot of players in recent years to top clubs so it is a great place to come and develop and I also know that they are fighting for promotion as well and I would love to be a part of that.”

Randell added that he almost joined City in the summer and was happy that the club came back into sign him this transfer window.

“Things didn’t go through how I wanted it to then, for whatever reason, but Matt (Taylor) has come back and I am more than happy to be here,” he said.

“It is always good to come to a team where you know the manager likes you. That is all you can ask for as a player to be part of a club where you know they want you.

“It was good to experience League Two last season and great to get experience in League One, this season, as well, but I have to look to the future and see what is best for me and a permanent move here is perfect.”

Speaking about Randell, manager Matt Taylor added: “He comes with a good pedigree. We were close to signing him in the summer, really close.

“I just missed out then, so I am delighted to secure his services. He is the winger on the left side that we have been looking for the last few months, especially with Chieo (Chiedozie Ogbene) going back to Brentford.

“And the fact that we have got him on a permanent deal, I am delighted with because we can invest in him and develop him.

“He is going to be one of our own for the next two and a half seasons and hopefully we can see his progression and develop him as a player but also bring us success on the pitch.

“We are pleased that there is no fee involved, but if he were to leave at some stage down the line during his contract then there would be a percentage of that that goes back to Watford.

“We appreciate what Watford has done, but that is also testament to our reputation that Watford see us as the best place for Randell to come and play, come and get game time and come and improve and then then go onto the next level.

“He has come into a group of players who have been in good form the last six or seven games and he has got to fight for his place in the team, earn his right to play and hopefully he will fit right in.”